The SFZC Audio Archive

You are currently logged-out. You can log-in or create an account to see more talks, save favorites, and more. more info

Showing 6372 talks
 

- Reset Search

Title Speaker Date

**Budgeting Harmony for Zen Center**

Serial: RB-00044 The main thesis of the talk revolves around the financial overview and budgeting for a Zen Center, addressing the costs of residency for students, the allocation and calculation of scholarships, and strategies to sustain the...
Time, Work, Bell
Nov 22 1975

Zen Economics: Balancing Budgets for Growth

Serial: RB-00045 The talk discusses financial management and budgeting strategies for a Zen community center. Emphasis is placed on the need to balance cutting expenses with improving fundraising efforts. The practical measures suggested include...
Work, Community, Time
Nov 22 1975

Zen Pathways: From Karma to Balance

Serial: RB-00020 The talk addresses the distinction between society and the sangha, emphasizing the necessity to reconsider the wisdom inherited from Buddhist tradition given contemporary societal complexities. It highlights the practical aspects...
Practice, Effort, Buddhism
Nov 13 1975

Sangha: Interconnected Path to Enlightenment

Serial: RB-00019 This talk focuses on the "three treasures" in Buddhism: Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, with a particular emphasis on understanding Sangha. It discusses various stages of comprehending Sangha and the spiritual practice of realizing...
Vow, Practice, Buddhism
Nov 11 1975

Zen and the Shifting Mind

Serial: RB-00018 The talk explores deep Zen concepts, focusing on the famous koan of the buffalo and transitioning states of mind. Using anecdotes about a taxi driver and a grocer to illustrate human interactions and transitional challenges, the...
Hate, Greed, Delusion
Nov 08 1975

Crafting Consciousness Through Vows

Serial: RB-00017 The talk primarily focuses on the importance of recognizing and not sacrificing one's state of mind, treating it as a craft and integral part of one's practice. It contrasts Western and Eastern attitudes towards skill and...
Consciousness, Vow, Practice
Nov 02 1975

Zen State of Artful Vows

Serial: RB-00338 The talk focuses on the concepts of state of mind, consciousness, and vow in Zen practice, contrasting Western and Eastern perceptions of art and craft. Emphasis is placed on recognizing one’s state of mind as a tool rather than...
Consciousness, Vow, Practice
Nov 02 1975

Embracing Uncertainty in Zen Practice

Serial: RB-00336 The talk explores the theme of uncertainty in Zen practice, emphasizing the importance of embracing unknowing and playfulness over rigid adherence to beliefs. It contrasts different modes of philosophical and religious thinking...
Vow, Buddhism, Work
Oct 31 1975

Playful Uncertainty in Zen Practice

Serial: RB-00566 The talk explores the theme of "not knowing" in the context of Zen practice, emphasizing the importance of playfulness and experimentation in understanding one's path and the nature of reality. It contrasts philosophical and...
Vow, Work, Buddhism
Oct 31 1975

Embracing Life's Intrinsic Contradictions

Serial: RB-00334 The talk primarily addresses the concepts of contradictions in life, the power of intention and vow, and the practice of Zazen as processes of unwinding and uncovering innate knowledge. The speaker emphasizes the importance of...
Vow, Time, Intention
Oct 30 1975

Embracing Contradictions Through Vows

Serial: RB-00565 The talk discusses the significance of embracing life’s contradictions and the transformative power of vows in Zen practice. Emphasizing the importance of intention or vow in grounding one’s practice, the discussion elaborates on...
Vow, Time, Intention
Oct 30 1975

Interconnected Living Beyond Individualism

Serial: RB-00564 The talk discusses the dangers and societal impacts of individualism, commercialization, and misplaced faith in science and technology, drawing parallels between biological and social structures. It emphasizes the need to...
Work, Consciousness, Vow
Oct 29 1975

Beyond Attachments: The Zen Journey

Serial: RB-00016 The talk explores the concept of practice in Zen Buddhism, emphasizing the importance of individual effort and the notion of living beyond worldly concerns. It underscores the practice of dropping fixed topics and desires to...
Time, Practice, Tozan
Oct 28 1975

Beyond Clinging to Concepts

Serial: RB-00563 The talk delves into the existential relationship between practitioners and the teachings of Buddhas and Patriarchs. It emphasizes that individual effort overrides external aids like lectures and zendos, with enlightenment...
Time, Practice, Tozan
Oct 28 1975

Embracing Limitations for Zen Insight

Serial: RB-00015 The talk explores the concept of limitations, particularly how they relate to understanding Zen. It begins with a famous kōan about a buffalo and shifts to discussing the challenge of intelligent individuals grasping Zen...
Composure, Suffering, Concentration
Oct 27 1975

Embrace Limitations for Zen Insight

Serial: RB-00562 The talk explores the concept of limitations in Zen philosophy, emphasizing the limitations on intellectual understanding and personal capabilities and illustrating how these can lead to a deeper understanding and acceptance of...
Suffering, Composure, Concentration
Oct 27 1975

Zen in Everyday Moments

Serial: RB-00014 The talk on October 26, 1975, focuses on the application of Zen practice in ordinary life outside monastic settings. Emphasizing the necessity of concentration and morality, it explores how lay practitioners can integrate Zen...
Practice, Intention, Zazen
Oct 26 1975

Integrating Zen Into Everyday Life

Serial: RB-00561 The talk examines the challenge of integrating Zen practice into lay life, emphasizing how practice often becomes mere therapy rather than addressing the root of suffering. It explores the importance of concentration and morality...
Practice, Intention, Zazen
Oct 26 1975

Invisible Interconnectedness: Beyond Modern Illusions

Serial: RB-00335 The talk argues that modern life, symbolized by the difficulties and dangers inherent in various societal agreements, contrasts sharply with historical periods where enlightenment was more common and less commodified. The...
Work, Consciousness, Vow
Oct 25 1975

Creating Your Mindful Path

Serial: RB-00560 The talk primarily focuses on the significance of the participant's state of mind during Sashin practice. It emphasizes that participants should actively create their experiences rather than passively follow schedules or external...
Zazen, Greed, Delusion
Oct 25 1975

Mindful Sesshin: Create Your Insight

Serial: RB-00568 The talk emphasizes the importance of understanding and actively engaging with one's own mind during the sesshin practice. The central thesis revolves around not depending solely on the external structures of sesshin but creating...
Practice, Zazen, Greed
Oct 25 1975

Intrinsic Actions in Zen Practice

Serial: RB-00558 The talk elaborates on the Zen principle that emphasizes spontaneous, intrinsic actions and reactions, using the example of "Why, when the bell rings, do you put on your robe?" It discusses the importance of dealing...
Practice, Buddhism, Time
Oct 08 1975

Zen Mastery in Everyday Details

Serial: RB-00557 The talk emphasizes the significance of attention to details in Zen practice and warns against being misled by the superficial aspects of Buddhist practices. It explains that true understanding and mastery of Zen come not through...
Buddhism, Zazen, Hate
Oct 06 1975

Zen Posture and Inner Peace

Serial: RB-00311 Summary: The talk emphasizes the importance of combining physical posture and relaxation in Zen practice, particularly through Zazen meditation. The discussion highlights the necessity of understanding oneself through suffering...
Practice, Posture, Zazen
Sep 30 1975

Reviving Zen: Manzan's Reforms Unveiled

Serial: KR-00082 The talk focuses on Manzan Zen Master's efforts in reforming Soto Zen's Dharma transmission practices and his emphasis on restoring Dogen Zenji's teachings. Manzan introduces reforms to prevent the nullification of Dharma lineage...
Transmission, Dharma Transmission, Ceremony, Addiction, Soto Zen, Lineage, Realization, Evil,...
Sep 17 1975

Zen Manuscripts: Evolutionary Pathways

Serial: KR-00080 The talk discusses the preservation and evolution of "Shobo Genzo" through various editions and contributions from significant figures at AHE Monastery and beyond, emphasizing the mimeographing efforts of Sogo and Taiyo Bonsai....
Soto Zen, Rinzai, Vow, Ceremony
Sep 12 1975

Keizan Zenji: Catalyst of Soto Zen

Serial: KR-00078 The talk focuses on the legacy of Keizan Zenji, emphasizing his pivotal role in expanding and formalizing the Soto Zen school, especially by popularizing Dogen's teachings. Keizan's efforts to balance original teachings, such as...
Soto Zen, Transmission, Dharma Transmission, Realization, Lay, difficulty
Sep 11 1975

Zen Leadership: Tradition and Transformation

Serial: KR-00077 The talk examines historical leadership changes and ideological conflicts within the Soto Zen lineage at Eheji Monastery. It discusses the differing approaches to dharma transmission, the tension between progressive and...
Transmission, Building, Dharma Transmission, Soto Zen, Rinzai, Bell, Bodhidharma, Interview...
Sep 10 1975

Zen Power Struggles at Ehe-ji

Serial: KR-00086 This talk explores the complex history of the Zen tradition in Japan, focusing on leadership changes and doctrinal conflicts within Ehe-ji Monastery. The discussion covers the tenure of several abbots, including Gikai and Ejo,...
Transmission, Bell, Building, Soto Zen, Rinzai, difficulty, Bodhidharma
Sep 10 1975

Silent Illumination and Zen's Path

Serial: KR-00074 The talk discusses the history and nuances of Zen Buddhism, specifically focusing on the Sōtō Zen lineage and teachings of Dōgen Zenji. It explores the roots of Japanese Sōtō Zen through figures such as Tomyo Enji, Toyo Eiyo, and...
Transmission, Soto Zen, Discrimination, Buddha Nature, Realization, Separation, Silence,...
Sep 08 1975

Dynamic Interconnections in Zen Philosophy

Serial: KR-00072 The talk explores the concept of "nowness" in Zen philosophy, emphasizing its non-solid, dynamic nature that exists as a possibility of interconnection rather than as a tangible entity. This idea aligns with findings in modern...
Interdependence, Teacher-and-Student, Religion, Attachment, Interview
Sep 05 1975

Living Zazen Every Moment

Serial: RB-00333 The talk emphasizes the principles of Shikantaza practice, focusing on the complete involvement in everyday activities as a form of Zazen. It describes the dual aspects of practice: perfecting oneself for enlightenment ("way...
Practice, Time, Zazen
Sep 05 1975

Living Zen Through Shikantaza

Serial: RB-00556 The main thesis of the talk emphasizes the practice of Shikantaza as both an experiential and experimental approach to Zen, focusing on the lineage and teachings passed down through generations. The discussion highlights the...
Practice, Time, Buddhism
Sep 05 1975

Experiencing Zen Beyond Thought

Serial: RB-00332 The talk centers on the concept of emptiness in Zen Buddhism, specifically its elusiveness and its relationship to direct experience beyond intellectual understanding. The narrative highlights the story from Blue Cliff Records...
Zazen, Emptiness, Rinzai
Sep 04 1975

Embodied Emptiness in Zen Practice

Serial: RB-00555 The talk focuses on the concept of emptiness in Zen Buddhism, contrasting it with the tendencies to control or seek the mysterious. Emptiness is approached as an experiential reality, beyond rational comprehension. Key teachings...
Emptiness, Zazen, Practice
Sep 04 1975

Interwoven Existence: Life as Zen Journey

Serial: KR-00069 The talk explores the notion that life and the self are dynamically interconnected with the universe, emphasizing that a mistake or an action is not isolated but pervades everything. The concept is illustrated through metaphors...
Heart Sutra, Subject-and-Object, Sanctuary, Separation, Lay, Realization, Hate...
Sep 03 1975

Echoes of Stillness in Zen

Serial: RB-00347 The talk explores the challenges and strategies of chanting in a Zen context, emphasizing the difficulties posed by the acoustics of a specific zendo compared to others like those at Tassajara or the Buddha Hall. It also delves...
Time, Practice, Zazen
Sep 03 1975

Zen Moments and Eternal Now

Serial: RB-00554 The talk primarily explores difficulties in chanting in different zendos, elaborates on the concept of time in Zen practice, and discusses the importance of understanding and integrating this perception into one's Zazen practice...
Time, Practice, Chanting
Sep 03 1975

Zen Dynamism: Embracing Oneness and Liberation

Serial: KR-00067 This talk explores the concept of "Zen Dynamism" by examining the teachings of Dogen Zenji around emancipation and realization as the culmination of the Buddhist quest. Central to the discussion is the idea of "zenki," or total...
Realization, Birth-and-Death, Oneness, Meditation, Nirvana, Happiness, Separation,...
Sep 02 1975

Embracing Zen Through Stories

Serial: RB-00013 This talk explores a story from the "Blue Cliff Records" concerning Wong Po, emphasizing the importance of developing a feeling and understanding of Zen tales rather than overanalyzing them. It discusses common human tendencies...
Practice, Time, Zazen
Sep 02 1975

Intuitive Embrace of Zen Truths

Serial: RB-00346 The talk examines the story of Wong Po from the Blue Cliff Records, emphasizing the importance of developing an intuitive understanding rather than analytical comprehension when studying Koans. It explores themes of inherent...
Practice, Time, Zazen
Sep 02 1975

Zenki: Living the Eternal Moment

Serial: KR-00066 This talk focuses on the philosophical concept of "Zenki," which refers to the totality and dynamic function of life and death as propagated by Dogen Zenji. Central to the discussion is the idea that Zenki represents life's...
Birth-and-Death, Concentration, Realization, Happiness, Separation, Beginners, Oneness, Pain...
Sep 01 1975

Embracing the Continuum of Existence

Serial: KR-00068 The talk explores Zen Buddhism's concept of life and death, emphasizing that these are not distinct entities but manifestations of a continuous dynamic process with the universe. It discusses the idea of "immense" and its...
Separation, Gratitude, Enemies, Transmission, Nirvana, Emotions, difficulty, Pain...
Sep 1975

Eternal Harmony of Dynamic Existence

Serial: KR-00070 The talk discusses the intrinsic harmony between life and death, emphasizing that neither obstructs the other. It centers on the concept of "total dynamism," a state where all things exist in balance without impeding one another...
Oneness, Birth-and-Death, Heart Sutra, Subject-and-Object, Separation, Discrimination, Pain...
Sep 1975

Zen Practice Beyond Judgment

Serial: KR-00073 The talk emphasizes the importance of practicing Zen under the guidance of a right teacher, focusing on Dogen Zenji's interpretation of Zazen and the concept of "Shikantaza" as an undefiled practice beyond criticism. It...
Silence, Realization, Bodhidharma, Discrimination, Transmission, Oneness, Rinzai, Separation,...
Sep 1975

Zen Lineage: From Bodhidharma to Dogen

Serial: KR-00075 The talk focuses on the lineage and historical developments in Japanese Zen Buddhism, highlighting the transitions within the Bodhidharma school and its influence on Dogen Zenji's teachings. The discussion delves into the roles...
Transmission, Dharma Transmission, Bodhidharma, New Year, Ceremony, Soto Zen, Building, Rinzai...
Sep 1975

Zen Lineage: Echoes of Dogen

Serial: KR-00076 The talk primarily addresses the historical lineage and disciples of Dogen Zenji, focusing on the succession of abbots at Eheji Monastery and the influence of the Bodhidharma school. It details the relationships between key...
Transmission, Ceremony, Building, Bodhidharma, Addiction, Demons, Rinzai
Sep 1975

Zen Ranks Through Gassan's Lens

Serial: KR-00079 The main thesis of this talk is the exploration of Zen teachings through the lens of the Five Ranks theory, tracing its historical development and the role of various Zen masters in its interpretation and dissemination. Emphasis...
Soto Zen, Rinzai, Transmission, Enemies, Greed, Vow
Sep 1975

Embodied Zen Through Sincere Practice

Serial: RB-00012 The main thesis of this talk centers on the profundity of Zen practice, specifically emphasizing the essential qualities necessary for true understanding and realization as exemplified by the Zen master Obaku (Wang Po). The talk...
Practice, Time, Suzuki Roshi
Sep 01 1975

Rediscovering Zen's True Essence

Serial: RB-00345 The talk references the Blue Cliff Record, specifically case number 11, to illustrate the profound yet simple teachings of Obaku, also known as Huang Po. The discussion focuses on the true essence of Zen practice, emphasizing the...
Practice, Time, Suzuki Roshi
Sep 01 1975

Pages